Media/Former Kenyan president’s son denies reports of theft by his family

From WikiLeaks

Le Mali: Former Kenyan president’s son denies reports of theft by his family

Nairobi(Kenya) The son of the former Kenyan President Daniel Arap Moi, Gideon has rejected a leaked 2004 international report claiming that his father’s inner circle stole $2 billion of state money and has vowed to sue the British Guardian newspaper over a published report linking him as one of the looters of Kenyan taxpayers’ money.

Gideon Moi, who is also the Member of Parliament for Baringo central in the country’s largest province, Rift valley has said that he would sue the British Guardian newspaper, which reported Friday that Risk Consultancy Group Kroll had exposed a web of shell companies, hidden trusts and front men used by Moi’s family and associates used to funnel vast sums abroad.

Speaking in Nairobi on Saturday Gideon said no family member had seen the report and the allegations contained therein are untrue.

According to the damning international report by Risk Advisers Kroll and Associates that was published by the Guardian newspaper on Friday reveals that relatives and associates of former president Moi looted $2 billion of Kenya’s taxpayers’ money during his 24 year rule.

The leaked report claims that the countries that the money was traced to include. South Africa, Britain, Switzerland, United States, Namibia, Malawi and little known states like Cayman Islands and Brunei.

On Friday, a government spokesman Dr Alfred Mutua told journalists in Nairobi that the report is a political gimmick meant to score points against President Kibaki because of his alliance with retired President Moi.

Still on Friday, the permanent secretary at the ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs , Ms. Dorothy Angote, confirmed in Nairobi that the Kroll report had been handed over to the government and passed on to the Kenya Anti-corruption commission.

Should the facts revealed by Kroll be confirmed to be true, then the $2 billion could be similar in magnitude to those perpetrated by other Kleptocrats in Africa, including Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire and Nigeria’s Sani Abacha.